John D. McGurk’s Irish Pub

I lived in St Louis for 15+ years and never knew about this gem of an Irish pub and restaurant in downtown Soulard District of St Louis?! How can this be?!
We started our meal by walking to the quaint patio with a lovely fountain in the back of the restaurant that must have been converted from an old house in the 70s or 80s. Then we sat down and ordered some Irish drinks: Magners Cider and their house beer.
The appetizer of onion rings and spicy ranch was to die for!
What I loved the most was the quickness of our food from ordering to eating. I cannot believe how fast and accurate our order was! Our server was helpful but not overbearing and the dinner was capped off with another drink and enjoying the scenery and fountain on the back patio.
Five stars for sure! Next time I am back in St Louis, this will definitely be a stop but I will bring the full family and not just the siblings.

Classic Irish pub… dark inside, fairly loud, and plenty of beer taps. They have a nice outside area when weather permits. The food is pretty good here. The fish was well cooked, crispy, and not too greasy. The Irish chips are definitely homemade, and the portion is huge.

Possibly the most amazingly beautiful patios I’ve ever been to. Inside looks like a hole-​in-​the-​wall Irish pub, but then… the garden!!!

I love the vibe of this place. From quiet rooms inside to amazing outdoor patio. Great food. Excellent Irish music. All around fun.

I’m a avid patron of Irish pubs the world over. This by far is one if the more authentic types, in my opinion.
My date and I dined in their outdoor terrace area. Service and ambience was amazing. The tables are spaced far enough apart, providing a more private atmosphere. The food was fantastic as well. I recommend that «Gaelic Steak».
By nightfall we settled inside the the pub itself and enjoyed some live «Trad» Irish music. The musicians were excellent, created a very pleasant vibe while sipping a fine Irish Whiskey. –Sláinte–
Great recommendation from a friend!

The spinach and artichoke ravolis are great! The dipping sauce with it was amazing! Atmosphere is great the patio is huge, bigger than photos let on. Couple different bars. Seats by the fountains. The pub chips are the best I’ve had!

Great outdoor patio area for socializing and/​or eating. Food was pretty good for what it was — meaning that it was tasty Irish/​English fare. But then again, the islands aren’t especially known for their cuisine. Fish n chips was tasty. Fish actually was really good. Light tempura coating that was surprisingly flavorful, with flaky fish inside. Chips were top notch. Thin sliced potatoes cut and fried on site. Guinness stew was good, if standard.

Classic bar restaurant in Soulard. They have an excellent beer selection, including domestics, craft beers (local and national origins), Irish beers, and ciders. The food is also quite good. I have yet to eat a bad meal here. They have a selection of sandwiches as well as dinner entrees for your meal. Want an appetizer? Strongly consider the Irish onion gratin (better version of French onion soup) or the potato skins.
When the weather is nice, expect to wait to for a table. They have a gorgeous outdoor space with full bar and TVs.

My sister and I sent in for lunch after leaving Soulard market. We were a little disappointed. The food was sub par at best and our waitress was not very good.

Food was good and courtyard was very nice.
I had fish n chips for dinner and the fried ravioli and crab cakes for apps.

We had our wedding rehearsal dinner on the patio, and everyone in attendance raved about the food and the patio. I’ve commented in the past about both, but not about your ability to throw a great private party. THANK YOU.
(Also, many thanks to the other patrons and staff for not giving us a hard time when our flower girls and ring bearers, ages 6 – 7, ran amok in the back of the patio.)

My brother-​in-​law wanted to go here for his birthday, so I was with a large group that they had no problem accommodating. Definitely a fun party atmosphere with plenty of beers on tap.
We shared a couple different appetizers… better-​than-​average bar food. The Irish «comfort food» entrees (shepherds pie, guiness stew, bangers and mash, etc) are all flavorful and hearty.
A good place! I wouldn’t mind returning for another night of drinking and gorging.

St Patty’s Day EVERY day. A must see on St Patty’s day. Live Irish music, food and fun. My daughter stuck with appetizers while I went for the corned beef and cabbage. The beer cheese dip served with the pretzel bites was so good I ate it with a spoon!

I found myself in St. Louis once again for work last week, and although I normally opt for the «eat-​Whole-​Foods-​premade-​food-​in-​my-​hotel-​room-​while-​doing-​more-​work» route, I was with my boss and he recommended we go check out this Irish pub. Boss letting me off of working at night? Don’t mind if I do.
McGurk’s was cool. Great feel, solid beer selection, and decent pub-​style food. I got the Fish & Chips, which beware — they are American-​style, potato chips. I envisioned French fries, like what the Brits call «chips,» but maybe I am just that ignorant to assume the Irish have the same term. Anyways, not a deal-​breaker, just a surprise. The BEST surprise though was the live music. There was a folk music group from Dallas performing that night, and I was blown away by their talent. Here I thought I would be spending the evening with my laptop and Excel spreadsheets, but instead was being entertained over a beer and some great nosh. Awesome twist of fate. Well done, John D. McGurk.

Love this place :
We go here often and really love it in the summer, sitting outside people watching.
Today I had chicken strips another had the fish & chips and philly sandwich…
We all loved our lunch…
From the minute you walk in there is someone taking care of you .
Our waitress was right there keeping our tea glass full and making sure we were having a great Two Hour Lunch.
One of our old parts counter retired buddies
dropped in when he seen our trucks parked on Russell …
That made for a great Two Hour Lunch Adventure. Nice too see you again John…
Thanks too everyone for a great lunch… See you soon…

I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland, buuuuuut my bank account is currently in the red (waiting on those refunds, lol) However, walking into McGurk’s, it’s exactly what I’d imagine a true Irish pub to be like in Ireland — great selection of drinks, loud music and most importantly, delicious comfort food. McGurk’s has all that and more!
Hate waiting in long lines at bars to get drinks? Fear not, McGurk’s has three indoor bars for all of your beverage needs. But wait, those three bars are full of people? Don’t worry, there are also three bars outside! Yup, you heard me right… this place is huge. When the weather is warmer, there’s a huge patio outdoors with a beautiful courtyard complete with fountains and foliage which gets pretty crowded. It’s a great place to grab some drinks and chill with friends. It can get pretty loud when they have live music, but it’s all a part of the charm of this place.
Although many people come to McGurk’s for the drinks and nightlife, this Irish pub has some seriously damn good food. My friends and I stopped by for some drinks and a light dinner before heading over to the city museum. All of us ordered something different which was great because we could sample a little bit off each person’s plate. The baked spinach and artichoke dip was so creamy and satisfying served with crispy fried pita triangles. The housemade pretzels had a great chewy exterior and pillowy soft interior served with nacho cheese sauce. Another friend ordered the baked potato skins which were heavenly. The skins had smoked bacon, a combination of three cheeses and came with tangy sour cream. The toasted beef ravs were piping hot and chock full of that scrumptious beeeeefy filling. The fish and chips were my fav out of all the items we had. The flaky cod filets are beer-​battered and fried to crispy golden brown perfection. The dish was served with Irish crisps and housemade tartar sauce — excellent!
So the next time you’re in the mood for authentic Irish food, drinks and music, skip the TSA lines and head over to Soulard!

Great ambiance and excellent music that would appeal to many different age groups. They have a lovely, large patio area and multiple areas inside too. Very pleasant place to spend an evening. I think it would make a great date place too. The booths seem kind of private and the seating isn’t so close as to be cramped so it lends itself easily to conversation.
Beer and appetizer selections are good. The appetizers were good, but nothing outstanding. We didn’t eat dinner, just appetizers and drinks. I’ve been here twice and certainly look forward to visiting next time I am in town and would highly recommend it.

I don’t think there has been a place that I have been for lunch recently where I said «wow, I really want to go back there.» John D McGurk’s Irish Pub fell into that category. Four of us for lunch and the place was packed but it is also huge so we had no problem getting a seat. I noticed that they also have outdoor seating but the winter is here.
Our waitress took our drink orders and we perused the menu. Two of us decided on the Grilled Three Cheese sandwich, B chose the hamburger and M got the Irish Stew. We chose crisps (potato chips) for our sides. The three cheeses on the grilled cheese were Monterey Jack, goat cheese and cheddar. It also had tomatoes and onions on it. I chose not to get the onions on it and I think that was a mistake. The cheese and tomato by itself was very bland. B said his hamburger was good and cooked the way he ordered. M said the Irish Stew was good, but nothing to write home about.
Only one drawback and that was waiting for refills for our drinks. They do have a more extensive menu for dinner. They also have their own parking lot around the corner.
Would I come back here? I could but it probably wouldn’t be my first choice.

Awesome outdoor patio is great in the summer! Good food, great atmosphere!

Great patio, always have had excellent service and the food is pretty good as well. Whenever someone comes to town this place is on our to do list.

Huge bar. Cozy interior with a huge patio and two bars outside. It’s a good place for big gatherings for happy hour. Drink prices are reasonable.

Awesome outdoor seating area for both day and night. Got the Reuben and a mimosa– delicious. Have been there at night and it’s a fantastic atmosphere to hang out. never feels too crowded but there’s always a lot of people.

Great patio summer or winter. Food is 100 percent every time. Staff never fails to take care of us.

Very beautiful restaurant! Our server was super friendly and knowledgable about everything, even suggesting a twist on my normal go to drink that I absolutely loved. Good was great, reasonably priced. The portions are large so come hungry!

Tremendous pub burger cooked to medium-​rare perfection, ridiculously good reuben, friendly vibe, and attentive service. Great for live music, but not so much for watching the game. A bit pricey for a pub, too, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons on this place.

The outdoor patio is a five star.
Whether dining in Soulard or O’fallon it’s the best patio dining around.
Food is always well prepared by excellent line chef’s and a strong kitchen.
The staff in general is always excellent. So good I’d bet they have an excellent employee retention.
McGurks is a St. Louis institution. Highly recommended for both St. Louis and St. Charles locations.
Why not a five star rating?
Because the experience should include a drink menu.
Not just a beer and wine menu.
Their bars are beautiful and stocked with all the goods. Why not capitalize on the selections available and offer some delicious drinks to accommodate a great dinner?

I ate on the patio, right next to the koi pond and waterfall. The atmosphere was great, the food was great, the service… well that’s something else. I don’t know of the lady was overwhelmed, even though it wasn’t really crowded, but she came and took my drink order and left. She brought my drink back and left, never asking if I was easy to order. She finally came back and took my order. When I finished and asked for a to go plate she looked at me and rolled her eyes and was gone for about 5 minutes. She came back without the ticket. She brought the ticket and then left again. I eventually had to go to the bar and pay my tab.

I had a number of people in from out of town who asked for dinner arrangements that were «fun and outside if possible» and I immediately thought of McGurk’s.
The inside atmosphere, beer, food and live music are authentic and, because we came in the main entrance, you should have heard the gasp from my guests as we stepped onto the patio which is among the best in St. Louis.
We shared appetizers of the onion rings and pretzels — both very good. I had the delectable grilled cheese with tomato and caramelized onions on sourdough… excellent but heavy and I wish I could have split it with someone as I don’t think it would be good as leftovers. A friend had the Ruben and another had the grilled chicken sandwich and someone else enjoyed the corned beef. No one was disappointed but we did leave food on our plates as the portions are HUGE.
The service was great all evening and I found myself wondering why the heck I don’t come here more often! That will change, I just needed a reminder.

The ravioli appetizer was some of the best we’ve had; the dip, specifically, was phenomenal.
We split the Bangors & Mash entrée. Having had this dish in various places all over the world, I can honestly say, the meat was absolutely amazing!
Throughout our meal, John M did an amazing job of guiding us through pairing our selections with the appropriate wine and beer.
My wife was pleased with the bread pudding we had for dessert. Unfortunately, I could not ‘see’ past the more traditional style I’ve had elsewhere. This seemed more like a dessert I would find in the local grocery store bakery.
Finally, I must share our great excitement with this restaurant’s appreciation for my military service. I was blown away to see a 50% reduction. Kudos to this fantastic restaurant for recognizing our service members!

With a great atmosphere, friendly bartenders and live music, this place is one of my favorites in St. Louis. It’s a must-​visit every time I come home. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Just can’t get enough.
The super large patio and multiple bars make it a go-​to for small and large groups alike. Though the weekends are rockin with live music at night (super fun), I prefer to head up there during the week where there’s more seating and you can hear your pals. But the music is always great.
Thanks, McGurks. See you again, soon!

McGurks is a jack of all trades-​kind of place. It is hopping with the college age and post-​college crowds on weekend evenings, but it also serves as a great spot for families or friends to catch up over hearty Irish classics during the day or early evening. The multi-​level outdoor patio is huge in size and beautifully complimented by the fountains and array of flowers and plants.
While all of this is fine and dandy, I think my favorite part of McGurks was my most recent visit: I stopped in with friends on a Monday evening following watching the Blackhawks game in Midtown (sorry Blues fans!)
We walked in and there was live music, a traditional trad sess like I experienced during my time as a SLU student studying abroad in Galway, Ireland. It wasn’t packed and it wasn’t too loud; it was the perfect night to sit down and have a drink, catching up with friends with some great live music as background accompaniment.
So, for anyone that has not yet stepped through the doors of McGurk’s in Soulard, I’d recommend trying a weekday night. There is less of a crowd and there is live music almost every night of the year. Living in Soulard, I might be a little bit biased, but I think McGurks lives up to all of the hype. :)

So my co-​worker decided to dump us and move on. A little bitter eh!!! Honestly really happy for her. It’s a great opportunity.
Sorry I got sidetracked. So I called ahead and told them it would be about 10 – 15 of us and we wanted to sit outside. The young lady was very pleasant, knowledgable and easy to work with.
Well morning off happy hour it’s raining. I call to ask for us to be moved inside. Well apparently the manager had already done so. SCORE!
We arrived and our space was ready and our server was very attentive and friendly. We ordered lots of appetizers: pretzels w/​cheese sauce, wings, toasted ravs (meat and the spinach/​artichoke ones), and spinach artichoke dip w/​fried pita.
So, I’m secretly in love with the pretzels w/​cheese dip and the spinach artichoke dip. The pretzels melted in your mouth. They had the right amount of butter and the cheese was not too spicy, a great compliment.
Now that spinach artichoke dip was beyond mouth-​watering epic. I am telling you it is mere food porn that will cause you to have a food-​gasm! And who the hell don’t like bread aka pita and lightly fried.
I will be visinting them again and VERY SOON!

I have never been to Ireland, but when I entered McGurk’s it was exactly what I would imagine a true Irish pub would look like. The pub is dark with great artwork that went along beautifully with the interior. My wife and I was really curious about the space and went exploring. The place is ENORMOUS. We counted 3 bars indoors, but wait… we also counted 3 bars outdoors. (Later my friend corrected me and told me there were 4 bars indoors, I haven’t confirmed yet though)
Since it was cold and rainy, my wife and I sat inside, but that didn’t stop us from exploring the patio area. The patio area was HUGE, I think it might be bigger than the inside. I think it’s the biggest and most impressive pub patio I have ever seen.
I had the Reuben for dinner, but I feel like the appetizers were what I enjoyed most about the meal. One of the ISC attendees was kind enough to buy the table appetizers to share. Here is what we had:
Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip — I felt like the dip itself was pretty good, but I thought the fried pita bread was the star of this dish. The pita bread was so good, I actually ended up eating it without the dip.
Spinach and Artichoke Ravioli — Pretty good t-​ravs. I really don’t remember too much about this dish. I think the next appetizer I’m going to mention is what really caught my eye… or taste buds.
House Made Pretzels — I thought I was going to like the toasted raviolis best out of the three, but this was the dish that really shined. The pretzels were nice and soft, and that cheese dipping sauce… WOW. Put that on anything, and I’ll eat it, even broccoli. (I normally avoid broccoli like the plague)
Great food plus amazing space, I can see how this place gets packed. Definitely coming back for another visit!

These guys earned themselves an upgrade at last night’s ISC. Why? Two reasons — the pretzel bite appetizer and the potato soup.
Pretzel bites — soft, chewy and slightly salty bite-​size pieces of warm pretzel. The cheese sauce was what stole the show. I loved the beer tanginess on top of the creaminess of the cheese, served warm. The two components of this appetizer worked together really well — thanks go to Aaron for grabbing them for the table.
Potato soup — served just a notch below too hot such that it was the perfect compliment to the winter redux experienced yesterday. The pieces of potato were all cut small enough to fit on the spoon without being lost in the soup. The base was rich and creamy with just the right amount of salt to brighten the flavors without being distracting. I really liked the shredded cheese on top which slowly melted into the soup as I became distracted by the appetizers on the table.
I think the next visit I will finally get this place right: beer, soup, appetizer… and be done.

Love that fire pit outside! Perfect for cold nights drinking by the fire. I was visiting and my friends took me here. I love the concept of several different rooms to hang out in. My favorites were the bar area outside in the back, and the one to the right of it with tables and chairs.
I would definitely come back here again! Drinks are definitely affordable compared to SF.